Global Semiconductor Sales Grow at Fastest Rate in Almost Two Years on Sequential Monthly Basis, Top $24 Billion for First Time in 2012

Industry projects slight increase in global sales in 2012, followed by more robust growth in 2013 and 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C.—JUNE 5, 2012—The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, today announced that worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $24.1 billion for the month of April 2012, a 3.4 percent increase from the prior month when sales were $23.3 billion. This marks the largest month-over-month growth for the industry since May 2010. However, sales from April 2012 were 2.9 percent below the April 2011 total of $24.8 billion. Further, 2012 year-to-date sales totaled $93.7 billion, a decrease of 5.9 percent from the year-to-date figures at the same time last year ($99.5 billion). All monthly sales numbers represent a three-month moving average.

“The outlook for the global semiconductor industry continues to be one of cautious optimism,” said Brian Toohey, president & CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. “We are beginning to see an encouraging trend of modest, sequential growth and we anticipate this trend will continue during the rest of this year, with stronger growth predicted for 2013 and beyond. But that optimism continues to be tempered by macroeconomic factors.”

On a regional basis, semiconductor sales increased in the Americas (5.6 percent), the Asia Pacific region (5.4 percent) and Europe (1.8 percent) over a three-month moving average, but fell slightly in Japan (-1.8 percent).

Meanwhile, SIA today endorsed the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization’s Spring 2012 global semiconductor sales forecast, which projects that the industry’s worldwide sales will hit $301 billion in 2012 – a 0.4 percent increase over the 2011 sales total. Regionally, WSTS projects year-over-year growth in the Americas (3.2 percent), Japan (1.7 percent) and the Asia Pacific region (0.1 percent) for 2012, with a slight downturn in Europe (-3.5 percent).

Beyond 2012, the industry is expected to grow at a significantly faster pace across all regions, according to the WSTS forecast. WSTS predicts 7.2 percent growth globally for 2013 ($322 billion in total sales) and 4.4 percent growth for 2014 ($337 billion). WSTS tabulates its annual forecast by convening an extensive group of global semiconductor companies that provide accurate and timely indicators of semiconductor trends.

April 2012 chart and graph

WSTS forecast summary

About the SIA

The Semiconductor Industry Association, SIA, is the voice of the U.S. semiconductor industry, one of America's top export industries and a bellwether measurement of the U.S. economy. Semiconductor innovations form the foundation for America's $1.1 trillion dollar technology industry affecting a U.S. workforce of nearly 6 million. Founded in 1977 by five microelectronics pioneers, SIA unites over 60 companies that account for 80 percent of the semiconductor production of this country. Through this coalition SIA seeks to strengthen U.S. leadership of semiconductor design and manufacturing by working with Congress, the Administration and other key industry groups. The SIA works to encourage policies and regulations that fuel innovation, propel business and drive international competition in order to maintain a thriving semiconductor industry in the United States. Learn more at www.sia-online.org